When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 12 Used as a Pawn

Hazel Hawthorne knew better than anyone how much Aiden Xavier loved Raina Lowell. After all, the only reason he’d married her was because of Raina.

Fiona Forrest didn’t approve of Raina and had even declared that Raina should never dream of stepping foot into the Xavier family home. To avoid being forced by his mother to marry some other woman, Aiden had chosen to partner up with Hazel.

His only goal was to have her hold the title of Mrs. Xavier for Raina, making it easier for Raina to marry into the family after he and Hazel divorced.

Hazel suddenly realized, ’Isn’t everything I’m doing now just clearing the way for Raina?’

As she’d thought, she was just a pawn, and Aiden Xavier was the one using her.

Still, her arrangement with Aiden was mutually beneficial. It wasn’t like she was getting the short end of the stick.

Having come to this conclusion, Hazel wandered back into the house. She had just been wondering why Aiden was back when she saw him coming down from the second floor, laptop bag in hand.

"You’re leaving again?" The question slipped out unconsciously.

To Aiden, it sounded like Hazel was asking him to stay.

Aiden walked up to Hazel and stopped. "Do you want me to stay?"

Hazel looked startled and quickly shook her head. "You’re reading too much into it. I was just thinking there was no way you’d actually come back. Turns out you were just grabbing your laptop."

"Getting your laptop is such a minor thing. You could have just sent your secretary. Why would a busy man like you make the trip yourself?" Hazel said casually. Looking at the bag in his hand, she couldn’t help but think something was wrong with his head.

"I won’t be around for a while. You’ll need to handle my mother," Aiden said, his face devoid of expression. It didn’t detract from his noble, princely air; if anything, it added the alluring charm of a cold, powerful CEO.

Hazel calmly averted her gaze. "I know."

"Raina isn’t well. I’m going to be taking care of her for a while. If my mother

get involved in. But I know what my role is, so you don’t have to worry." For a

for Hazel was beyond his comprehension, but it was precisely why he had chosen

a dismissive hand. "Fine, I know what to do. Nothing’s even happened yet. If my mother-in-law finds out, we’ll figure out

but Hazel cut him off. "And don’t you forget our

embarrass me when you’re out

front. I’ll be working under the name

sneered. "See that you

seeing Aiden out, Hazel felt a wave of relief. She was more comfortable living here alone. When Raina had been staying over,

if Raina had become the lady of the house, and Hazel was

Hazel couldn’t help but mock herself. ’To think I actually believed for a second that

became as gentle as water in front of the woman he loved. He was unbelievably tender, considerate, and

was hold Raina in his arms and pamper her every second of the

her mind to suspect they had fought. And just like that, reality hit her in

onto the sofa. Seeing her like this,

unfit wife they

let her husband keep

thought. She wasn’t a child anymore; she couldn’t live her life

design in college, but finding a job in her field would be difficult. And if she wanted to shed the "Mrs. Xavier" title, she would probably have to start from

that wasn’t a problem for

at the bottom would be a good way to gain experience. Besides, she hadn’t worked since college, so

her pre-written resume.

her resume to a few other companies as well, just in

Miller’s miscarriage. While the online abuse didn’t really bother her or seriously affect her life, she couldn’t help but want to see how the situation was

knew she wouldn’t find anything

the trending charts, holding steady

eye. Curious, she clicked on it. It was Dylan Miller, being interviewed